State & Local Meeting
City Council Meeting 3/18/2026
March 18, 2026
The City Council meeting of Ridgecrest on March 18, 2026, included several procurement-related discussions and budget approvals. The council approved a $492,000 budget increase for drilling a new emergency well and converting an existing well into a monitoring well, with a sole source contract awarded to Independent Well due to the emergency nature and limited local vendors. Additionally, the council authorized $115,606.20 in Measure P funds for Southern California Edison to install electrical service at the Sergeant John Penny Pool Complex, including creating a purchase order with SCE. The meeting also covered updates to the city’s general plan and municipal code related to military sustainability, land use, and a dark skies ordinance, with ordinances introduced for future adoption. Public comments addressed concerns about term limit ballot measures, surveillance camera data sharing, and city maintenance issues. The council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing the Sierra Sands Unified School District Community Social Contract to promote civility and respectful communication. Several committee reports and infrastructure updates were provided, including Caltrans plans for Highway 58 and US 395 safety improvements. No votes were taken on the general plan amendments during this meeting, as those are scheduled for a future public hearing.
Sources
- City Council Meeting 3/18/2026 · City of Ridgecrest · Mar 18